Addressing The Underlying Cause
Its also important to address the underlying cause, as this will direct treatment decisions and help to prevent reoccurrence.
Diagnostic testing is important for figuring out what caused a cat to throw up blood. Tests may include:
- A fecal check for parasites.
- Bloodwork and a urine analysis.
- Blood clotting tests.
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After a physical exam and diagnostic testing, a veterinarian can begin treatment that is targeted at curing or managing any underlying diseases.
For example, a kitty with intestinal worms will receive parasite treatment, while a cat with cancer may begin chemotherapy or be referred to a specialist such as an oncologist or surgeon.
Depending on the severity of a kittys condition, they may be sent home with oral medications, or they may need to be hospitalized for some time. The treatment plan of many pets falls somewhere in the middle.
Work With Your Veterinarian
If you witness your cat throwing up white foam, consider whether this is an isolated or recurrent issue. A single episode of vomiting can occur for any number of reasons, and may not always require veterinary care if your cat is otherwise acting normal.
However, repeated episodes of vomiting, or vomiting accompanied by other signs of illness, warrants a veterinary visit. Work with your veterinarian to determine the cause of your cats vomiting, as well as the best treatment.
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Sometimes Cats Get Sick But Its Important To Know The Warning Signs Just In Case Something Serious Is Happening
A cat throwing up white foam may need a vet visit to determine why this GI irritation is happening.
Experts at Senior Cat Wellness explain that cats throwing up white foam isnt necessarily one cause:
White foam usually occurs because the cats stomach or intestines have become inflamed. Furballs, parasites, and food allergies are common causes of inflammation. Occasionally, foamy vomit is linked to other organs, such as the pancreas .
With that in mind, sometimes your cat will vomit, but its not normal for them to see chronic vomiting. Some hair will inevitably end up in your cats stomach when they groom themselves, but if too much collects there, their stomach will become inflamed.
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Why Is My Cat Throwing Up So Much Lately
It’s abnormal for a cat to vomit daily or even several times a month. If your cat is vomiting frequently, it could be from a simple issue such as hairballs. It could indicate your cat has eaten a toxic substance or has a serious illness. Whatever reason you suspect, see your vet as soon as possible.
When Vomiting In Cats Is Cause For Concern
Repeated cat vomiting should never be ignored, medical attention may be needed for frequent vomiting, and in the short term, repeated vomiting can lead to serious dehydration. But because vomiting is common in cats, how do you know whats normal? A general guideline is that if the cat is vomiting one to three times a month, we consider this normal, says Dr. Folger.
He considers it serious if the vomiting occurs twice daily for two or three days. If your cat stops eating, seems to have stomach pain or retches continuously, or if the vomit is mixed with blood, take them to a veterinarian. And as always, if youre suspicious that a lingering problem could be harmful to your pet, call your veterinarian. A visit to the office can help relieve your cats discomfort and your worries as well.
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Symptoms Of Feline Infectious Peritonitis
A variety of symptoms can be seen in cats with FIP, depending on which organ system is affected. FIP can affect the liver, kidneys, pancreas, or other organ systems.
Most cats will start showing symptoms of simply not feeling welleating poorly, running a fever, or acting lethargic. Some animals will develop other diseases, depending on the type of the disease present. There are two main forms of FIP:
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Wet form: Causes bloating and swelling in the abdomen and may affect the heart and lungs. Cats with this form may pant and act sleepy or lethargic.
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Dry form: Usually affects the eyes and may have neurological symptoms such as trouble with balance and seizures.
These forms are mainly used for diagnostic purposes, and one cat may show symptoms from both forms.
Because the symptoms associated with FIP are extremely varied and variable, it can be very hard to diagnose FIP based on clinical signs alone. Conditions that have similar symptoms include abdominal tumors, toxoplasmosis, infection with mycobacterium, and other conditions.
My Cat Is Vomiting Bile: Pathological Causes
In addition to the already mentioned causes, a cat can also vomit bile as a symptom of a disease. Below, we summarize the main pathologies that can cause your cat to vomit this yellow-green fluid:
- Liver problems: as the liver is the organ that produces bile, any liver dysfunction can affect the normal production of this digestive fluid. When liver problems lead to overproduction of bile, this can result in irritation and inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosae. To relieve this cluster and stop the inflammatory process of the mucous membranes, bile will be eliminated through vomiting. The most common characteristic sign of liver problems is the yellowing of the eyes and mucous membranes . However, this symptom will appear when liver damage is quite advanced, so we must be alert to the first changes in the appearance and behavior of our cats, to allow for an early diagnosis.
- Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis in cats is often diagnosed in domestic cats. An affected cat will demonstrate a loss of appetite and spend long periods fasting. As we have mentioned, when the stomach is empty as a result of hours without food, bile accumulates and the vomiting is provoked to relieve irritation of the gastric mucous membranes. Pancreatitis in cats can also cause other symptoms, such as diarrhea, bloating and abdominal tenderness.
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Is It Normal For A 3 Year Old Cat To Vomit
Some vomit only in the summer months others, year-round. There is a large range of normal when it comes to the frequency of cat vomiting. First, lets look at the above question and analyze the various parts of it and decide if we should be seriously concerned about this particular case of cat vomiting or not. The cat is 3 years old.
Vomiting Is Severe Or Includes Blood
If your cat is getting sick several times a day, or you notice blood in the mess, you should take your feline friend to a Little Rock pet clinic right away.
If your cat is badly dehydrated, they may need an IV in order to replenish fluids. They may also need a variety of tests to determine whats going on.
For instance, a blood test can show signs of kidney or liver problems, or indicate an infection. X-rays can reveal blockages or abnormalities in the stomach or esophagus. More serious problems may require endoscopy under anesthesia or even exploratory surgery.
If your cat is severely ill, be sure that the veterinarian you choose has a variety of treatment options at their disposal. Its the best way to ensure that your pet gets the help they need quickly.
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Is It Vomit Or A Hairball
Before we discuss the many colors of vomit your cat may produce, its important to answer one common question is it a hairball or vomit?
The action of producing a hairball can look very similar to vomit production, and some hairballs may even be accompanied by stomach fluids.
Because of this, it can be challenging for cat owners to differentiate between the two.
When a cat is expelling a hairball, the product will typically be a slender or cylindrical accumulation of cat hair.
There may be some liquid in the hairball, but the large majority of the material will be cat hair that was consumed during grooming.
They may crouch over and hack similarly to other vomiting cats, but the result will be a tube-like structure of hair.
As long as most of the material is made of cat hair, its safe to say that its a hairball.
Another clue that can help you differentiate between vomiting and hairballs are any other signs of GI upset.
A vomiting cat will typically display other symptoms of nausea, ranging from a decreased appetite to lethargy.
Hairballs do not typically make a cat feel ill.
Stomach Issues In Cats: Why Cats Vomit And What To Do
Every cat owner knows the warning signs: the mournful meow, the gagging and the heaving retch. Moments later, just as suddenly as it began, your cat is feeling fine while youre left scrubbing the carpet.
The scenario is a familiar one for Cynthia Bowen of Cleveland, Ohio. As the owner of four Maine coons, Bowen has cleaned up her share of messes. It would happen every couple of months or so, she says. Otherwise, they were perfectly healthy.
Many owners accept vomiting and stomach issues as an inevitable part of owning a cat, but it doesnt have to be that way. Knowing what triggers an upset stomach and what you can do about it will make for a better relationship with your cat .
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Treatment For Vomiting In Cats
If your cat needs veterinary medical attention for vomiting, your vet may recommend diagnostic testing to determine the cause of the vomiting. Potential tests include blood chemistry, complete blood count, electrolytes, thyroid levels, urinalysis, radiographs , ultrasound, and more. There are some basic treatments that offer supportive care for vomiting, but additional treatment recommendations may be made depending on the test results.
Supportive veterinary care for vomiting in cats includes anti-nausea medications, subcutaneous or intravenous fluids to restore and maintain hydration, and a bland diet to ease digestion. Some cats can be treated on an outpatient basis, meaning the vet will administer some treatments in the clinic, then possibly send you home with medications to give your cat. Other cats with more severe illness may need to be admitted to the hospital for 24-hour care.
Some cats recover quickly while others need more time. This generally depends on the underlying cause of the vomiting as well as the cat’s overall condition. Your vet is the best source for advice when it comes to your specific cat.
Your Cat Is Eating Too Fast
Some cats may eat too quickly and this can cause them to regurgitate undigested food. Feeding your cat out of a food puzzle toy can help to slow them down. Food puzzles are a great source of both play and enrichment for your cat. There are more and more manufactured food puzzles available on the market that stimulate both your cat’s predatory and foraging instincts. The added benefit of food puzzles for a cat that chronically vomits its food, though, is that it slows down the chow time so that a cat can’t eat too quickly and then get sick from it. If your cat routinely eats out of puzzle feeders and is still vomiting up its food, talk to your veterinarian.
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Diagnosing The Cause Of Vomiting In Cats
Your veterinarian will begin by performing a thorough physical examination of your cat. They will check your cats hydration status, listen to your cats heart and lungs, palpate your cats abdomen for any internal abnormalities , and perform a complete nose-to-tail examination.
Based on these physical exam findings, your veterinarian will recommend appropriate diagnostic testing for your cat. Initial testing may include blood tests, fecal parasite testing, urine testing, and/or abdominal radiographs . If these screening tests do not provide a diagnosis, your veterinarian may recommend more targeted testing. Advanced testing for vomiting may include an abdominal ultrasound, a hypoallergenic diet trial , or surgical biopsies of your cats intestines to look for cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
Determining the cause of vomiting often requires multiple rounds of testing, but this is essential to determine the best treatment plan for your cat. You may be referred to a veterinary specialist for portions of this diagnostic workup, depending on what testing your cat needs.
Note The Look Of The Cat Vomit
As weve discussed above, the consistency and color of the throw up itself might tell you something about the cause of cat vomiting. Even if it doesnt indicate anything to you immediately, your veterinarian might want this information later. As youre cleaning it up, note any color or consistency details that may be relevant.
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Your Cat Ate Too Quickly
Itâs possible that the reason that your cat is regurgitating food is that they simply ate their meal too rapidly. If you find this is occurring over and over, take note of how long it takes your pet to eat. This observation could be valuable when you bring the issue up to the vet.
Instead, try to give your cat their food by using a food puzzle. This will allow them to slow down and take their time consuming their meal instead of guzzling it down. In addition to that, your cat will find the food puzzle to be enjoyable and amusing.
Sometimes, you can even find a food puzzle that will stimulate the catâs foraging and predatory instincts, too shop around to find the one that is right for your pet. This will also help you sort out if the speed that your pet is eating their food is the culprit. If you have transitioned your cat to a food puzzle and they have slowed their eating speed and are still getting sick, itâs time to chat with a vet.
Other Colors And What They Might Mean
Of course, any color in your cats vomit might be a result of something they ate that was that color. A cat treat flavored or colored with beetroots might create a red or pink color to their vomit, just as a cat food with leafy greens in it might color their vomit green.
When trying to assess the cause and severity of your cats vomiting, its important to remember details about their diet, activities, and behavior. It can be nearly impossible to assess your cats health using only the description of their vomit youll need information about other symptoms as well as input from your veterinarian.
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Treating Vomiting In Cats
If your cat has an isolated episode of vomiting with no apparent underlying disease, your veterinarian may administer an anti-nausea medication to settle your cats stomach. You may also be sent home with a short course of a bland, prescription diet, which is easily digestible and will provide rest for your cats gastrointestinal tract. In some cases, symptomatic care is all that is needed to get a cat over an upset stomach.
In more severe cases, involving ongoing or severe vomiting, your cat may require hospitalization. This will allow your veterinarian to administer intravenous fluids and injectable medications, while closely monitoring your cat. Hospitalization can be used to rehydrate your cat and get vomiting under control once your cat is stable, they can come home with you for ongoing outpatient care.
Cat Throwing Up Foam: What You Need To Know
When you find yourself woken in the middle of the night by the sound of a gagging or vomiting cat, it can be difficult to think clearly. You may go stumbling through the house, looking for signs of vomit, and only find a puddle of clear foam where your cat has thrown up.
There are many potential reasons that cats may throw up foam and each of these conditions requires its own unique diagnostic workup and treatment.
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What Can You Do
You can try feeding your cat smaller portions throughout the day rather than big meals to encourage the cat to slow down while they eat. There are toys and feeding apparatuses that make the cat take their time while they eat, and you can find them at most pet stores.
There are also cat foods specifically formulated for cats with allergies and sensitive stomachs. You can speak with your veterinarian if the cats regurgitation is becoming a serious issue.
If the cat is regurgitating its food and displaying other irregular symptoms, like lethargy, weight loss, and diarrhea, a physical exam with a veterinarian is necessary to get to the bottom of the issue.
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Why Do Cats Vomit
Cats may vomit for several different reasons. Usually, vomiting in cats is a sign that something they ate is not sitting right with them. It is possible that they ate some food off the ground or ate their food too quickly. Sometimes vomiting in cats can also signify an illness or blockage. Both of these things will likely require veterinary care for proper treatment. In addition to this, some other medical conditions can cause nausea and vomiting in cats. These conditions always require a vets diagnosis and treatment.